WELL, THIS IS A LITTLE EMBARRASSING

A VERY KIND POST ABOUT JOHN CASWELL BY JOHN PHILPIN

1985 - That Was The Year That Was

John is one of the most patient men I know. Let me tell you why

Thirty-Five years ago, he owned the company that was my design agency of record where I worked. The work was massive, award-winning and original. From the simplest Christmas card through to the full branding and corporate identity of an ocean racing 2-tonne yacht, including the crews offshore and on boat uniforms, the associated marketing, all the events.

Just one example - we brought the boat to Chelsea Harbour where it was launched with a smoke and laser show with Pink Floyd’s ‘One of These Days’ providing the musical backdrop - and that was just one event, over two years throughout Europe.

From those days long ago, where to the chagrin of his business partners he would design in front of me - pretty much nailing it on the fly. This ability to listen, think, communicate and draw was clearly an essential foundation to all that he delivers through Group Partners. And I also know that part of his career well, not just by following his work, reading his words, admiring his art - but actually working with him at the company for two years.

Fast forward to 2020.

We were talking on the phone the other day (yes - after 35 years, we remain friends and comrades in arms - even though we are separated these days by a few thousand miles … and during the conversation, John said - you know - you never gave me a reference for all that work we did for you at Oracle.

For Oracle was indeed the company.

We ran an Admiral’s Cup campaign long before Larry even got into sailing - much less used it for Corporate promotion in the America’s Cup. I would also say that the work John and the team delivered, not just directly - but as my Corporate Identity agency - helped - to corral the 30 or so service providers we used in those days to tell the Oracle story across advertising, PR, collateral, events, mailers, seminars - we used pretty much every channel available to us in 1985.

That work was noticed - not just by our customers who bought, but by the mothership in California - who reached out to me and said - we don’t quite know how you are doing what you are doing in Europe - but we sure would like you to come to HQ and do it here.

The rest is history.

35 years waiting for a reference. That is patience!